Department of Motor Vehicles

DMV now issues Excelsior vehicle license plates.

You do not need to get Excelsior plates when you renew your registration

You can keep your current plates or order Excelsior plates.

When you are eligible to get Excelsior plates

You will get Excelsior plates when you

• apply to replace plates that are lost or stolen
• apply for a new (original) registration and do not transfer the plates or registration from another vehicle
• order new personalized plates

You have the option to order Excelsior plates 

• when you renew your registration online, by mail or at a DMV office 1 
• to replace your current non-Excelsior plates (when your registration is not due for renewal)  

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

How to order 

You can order Excelsior plates online or at a DMV office 2. The new plates and registration documents will be sent to you separately in the mail. In most cases, you will receive the new registration documents in the mail before you receive your plates.

To avoid traffic tickets, put the new registration document on your vehicle even if your new plates have not yet arrived. Put the new plates on your vehicle as soon as you receive them.

To order online, you must provide

• the vehicle plate number
• vehicle class what is this?
• your name
• your ZIP Code (on DMV records)
  
  

Order Excelsior plates online

Plate fee

You do not need to get new Excelsior plates and pay a plate fee when you renew. You can renew and keep your current plates.

If you need a new plate, or you choose to get new Excelsior plates, you need to pay a plate fee.

• the fee for a set of two vehicle plates is $25
• the fee for a single plate (for example, a plate for a trailer or motorcycle) is $12.50

There is an additional $3.75 plate exchange transaction fee to order Excelsior plates when there is not a registration renewal.

Keeping your same plate number

If your vehicle is registered in the one of the classes listed below, you can keep the same plate number from your current plates on your new Excelsior plates for an additional fee of $20.00.

• passenger (PAS)
• commercial (COM)
• motorcycle (MOT)
• trailer (TRL)
• other specific registration classes  - see a list of registration classes eligible for Excelsior plates and keep the same plate number

I have personalized plates. Can I keep the same plate number if I request Excelsior plates?

Yes.  You can get new Excelsior plates and keep your personalized plate number when you renew your registration.

In addition to your renewal fee, you’ll need to pay the new plate fee ($25 plate fee for a set of two new plates, or $12.50 for vehicles that receive single plates). You will not be charged an additional fee to keep your same number, because you currently pay an annual personalized plate fee.

If your personalized plate number is not due for renewal and you’d like to replace immediately, please call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838. Office hours are 8:00am - 4:00pm, Monday through Thursday.

What to do with your old plates 

When you receive your new Excelsior plates, do not return your old plate(s) to the DMV. Destroy your old plates so that they cannot be reused. If your plates are not destroyed and someone else uses them, you could be held responsible for any traffic tickets written against the plates and for any fines resulting from the tickets.  When disposing of the old plates, we recommend that you use a permanent ink marker to cross out the plate number or otherwise deface the plates. 

Your old plates are considered to be scrap metal and you can recycle them at your local scrap metal yard or recycling drop-off station.  For more information, visit Recycle Right New York.